Primary Role

Key Accountabilities

• Maintains laboratory safety and QAQC procedures.
• Supports experimental design and development of project objectives.
• Executes planning and scheduling for water quality research projects.
• Prepares samples according to established methods for chemical or microbiological analytes.
• Develops and applies methodology for water quality constituents (e.g., organic matter fractions, chemical contaminants, cyanobacteria, etc.) using laboratory and online monitoring equipment, advanced data analytics/statistics and machine learning.
• Performs related duties within research studies such as purchasing laboratory supplies, preparing sampling kits and materials for analysis (e.g., organic-free glassware) and manages time, budget and costs as related.
• Analyzes and interprets water quality data through a detailed review.
• Participates in project progress meetings by preparing written updates that include data visualization related to objectives and associated tasks.
• Assists in preparing technical information and major findings of research and innovation projects into clear, comprehensive written weekly or monthly reports.
• Contributes to articles in peer-reviewed journals and presentations in national and local conferences.
• Keeps abreast of latest trends and happenings in water research.
• Similar or related duties to support the research roadmap or business needs/requests may be included.

Knowledge/Skills

• Good laboratory skills.
• Effective teamworking skills.
• Technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Development and design of experimental and sampling protocols.
• Maintaining, troubleshooting, and conducting performance evaluations of laboratory equipment.
• Analysis and interpretation of data.
• Visualization and modeling using R, Python, Excel of complex datasets.
• Project management.
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritize multi-project workloads.
• Works independently on water research projects under direction.
• Safe laboratory practices and procedures; and quality control techniques.
• Theory, principles, practices, methods, chemicals and agents used in chemical, microbiological, and physical analysis and testing of water.
• Water chemistry, drinking water treatment processes including organic and inorganic contaminant removal, filtration, oxidation and disinfection.
• Laboratory procedures for water sample preparation and analysis; Federal EPA and AWWA/APHA Standard Methods.
• Sterile techniques and other contaminant minimization procedures for microbiological assays and organic analysis.
• Federal EPA regulations and Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Operation and maintenance of applicable advanced and complex laboratory instrumentation and related computer programs and software; Programmable laboratory equipment; Preparation and maintenance of standard laboratory glassware, beakers, flasks, pipettes, etc.

Experience/Education

• Masters or PhD in environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, microbiology, or other relevant area.
• 2 years of water research experience.
• Experience from the candidate’s Masters/PhD thesis and dissertation research will be considered or post-doctoral appointment.
• Drinking water supply monitoring (surface and ground water), research laboratory experience with chemistry or microbiology methodology and instrumentation.

Travel Requirements

• Limited travel may include field work onsite (pilot and equipment maintenance) or field sampling.
• Visits to local water treatment facilities for learning the business and our locations may be incorporated with project and development goals.

Work Environment

• The Scientist will be in a water laboratory and office setting. Depending on the project type and status this may be approximately half time for each.

Competencies